Hierarchical MoS2-Carbon Microspheres: A Robust Anode for High Performance Lithium Ion Battery

With higher theoretical lithium ion capacity of 670 mAh g–1 comparing with commercial graphite electrodes, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) may be a promising alternative for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because it offers unique layered crystal structure with Mo atoms sandwiched between two layers of closely packed S atoms and the MoS2 layers are linked by weak van der Waals interaction. The large and tunable distance between layers enables the anticipated excellent rate and cycling stability because they can promote the reversible lithium ion intercalation and de-intercalation without huge volume change and consequently prevents the pulverization of active materials during the repeated charge and discharge processes. However, either bulk or nanoscale MoS2 delivers poor conductivity for the electron/ion transfer, thus leading to obvious capacity loss after several cycles. Moreover, the MoS2 based electrodes provide high capacity through similar electrochemical redox reactions with lithium sulfide batteries in essence, which may also lead to their degradation by the polysulfide shuttling effect. To overcome these barriers, numerous efforts have been devoted into the engineering of MoS2 nanostructures with optimized electrochemical performances. One effective strategy is to make the MoS2 into a few expanded layers, which provides a larger surface area, shorter lithium ions diffusion path and thus improved kinetics. On the other hand, combining conductive materials such as carbon or polymer with MoS2 will necessarily enhance the electron transport, cycling stability, structural integrity during the lithium-ion insertion/extraction processes. Herein, we prepared hierarchical MoS2-carbon microspheres via continuous and scalable ultrasonic nebulization route. The structure, composition, electrochemical properties are investigated in detail. The MoS2-carbon microspheres consist of MoS2 nanosheets with a few layers bridged by carbon (15 wt%), which separates the exfoliated MoS2 layers and prevents their aggregation and restacking. The novel architecture offers additional merits such as overall large size, high packing density, which promote their practical applications. The MoS2-C microspheres have been demonstrated to deliver excellent electrochemical performances in terms of low resistance, high capacity even at large current density, stable cycling performances, etc. The electrodes exhibited 800 mAh g–1 at 1000 mA g–1 over 170 cycles. At higher current density of 3200 mA g–1, a capacity of 730 mAh g–1 can be also maintained. The MoS2-C microspheres are practically applicable not only because of the continuous and large scale synthesis via current strategy, but also the robust and integrated architecture which ensures the excellent electrochemical properties.